Governor Christie is coming to Seaside Heights this afternoon to unveil new standards for rebuilding after superstorm Sandy. He has pledged the new regulations would be tough enough to meet expected tighter standards due out from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the next 18 to 24 months and says homeowners might save on insurance premiums as a result.

Meanwhile, Newark Mayor Cory Booker holds a commanding lead against potential Democratic challengers — including incumbent Frank Lautenberg — in the race for a U.S. Senate seat in 2014, according to two new polls. Though Booker has yet to formally announce his candidacy, he’s created a campaign committee, which has miffed Lautenberg, who told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the popular mayor might merit a “spanking.”

Meanwhile, New Jerseyans also favor stricter state gun control laws and a higher minimum wage, a new poll says. Democrats have made the latter a priority despite opposition from Christie and said they’re preparing to unveil a new package of gun control legislation in the aftermath of the Connecticut mass shootings.

Christie also weighed in last night on the federal government’s decision to intervene against New Jersey in a case testing the state’s new sports betting law. He said he wasn’t surprised the Justice Department joined the suit, noting the state is challenging the constitutionality of a federal law that restricts the practice.

New rules announced by the Board of Public Utilities yesterday would require electric utilities to provide towns with more information about power outages. The move comes after BP President Robert M. Hanna, a nominee for the state Supreme Court, criticized utilities’ efforts at communication in the weeks following Sandy, which left millions without power.

And while state Sen. Richard Codey, D-Essex, is nearing a decision on whether to enter this year’s governor’s race, Sen. Barbara Buono, D-Middlsex, the highest-profile Democrat yet to announce her candidacy, gained the endorsement of former state party chairman Joe Cryan.

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The Bloggers

Melissa Hayes, who has worked at The Record since 2010, covers Gov. Chris Christie and politics for the State House Bureau. Follow her on Twitter at @Record_Melissa. View all of her posts

Herb Jackson is the Washington correspondent for The Record, covering North Jersey issues on the Potomac, including the activities of the congressional delegation and federal policies that affect the region. Follow him on Twitter @Record_DC.View all of his posts.

John Reitmeyer, a reporter in the State House Bureau since 2007, focuses on taxes, state budgets, campaign finance and government ethics. Follow him on Twitter @JohnReitmeyer. View all of his posts

Charles Stile is the political columnist for The Record. He is a former State House Bureau chief at The Record and has covered politics and government in New Jersey for more than two decades. Follow him on Twitter @PoliticalStile. View all of his posts